Country Casa's Lakes have been Experiencing a Constant Deterioration in Water Quality Due to too Many Visitors.

Question: Country Casa's lakes have been experiencing a constant deterioration in water quality due to too many visitors. Therefore, Casa has decided that the best way to save its lakes is by charging an extra fee to users of the lakes.

Which of the following is an assumption underlying the conclusion?

1. Changing global temperatures has been shown to be mostly responsible for the lakes' deterioration.
2. It is clear that charging higher fees will not be enough to stop the destruction of the lakes.
3. The level of the lakes in Country Casa has fallen by 20 centimeters per year over the last decade.
4. Camping at the lakes has never been prohibited.
5. Higher fees would actually deter a significant amount of people from visiting the lakes.

Answer: E
Explanation: GMAT critical reasoning tests the reasoning, logical, and analytical thinking abilities of the candidate. The candidate has to deduce the correct option by finding the logically correct argument or by eliminating the irrelevant arguments.

Let us check the assumptions which are underlying the conclusion:

1. Changing global temperatures have been shown to be mostly responsible for the lakes' deterioration.
   Incorrect.
   Option, A states another reason for the deterioration of the lake. Option A is incorrect as it implies an increase in the number of visitors.

2. It is clear that charging higher fees will not be enough to stop the destruction of the lakes.
   Incorrect.
   Option B is the opposite of the conclusion that we are looking for, It can be seen that from the words it is clear that. We are looking for an assumption that reflects the gap between the hypothesis and the conclusion.
3. The level of the lakes in Country Casa has fallen by 20 centimeters per year over the last decade.
   Incorrect.
   Option C implies about that the falling level of the lakes. This is irrelevant as this new data may or may not support the conclusion.
4. Camping at the lakes has never been prohibited.
   Incorrect.
   Option D provides details regarding the use of lakes. This is irrelevant information as there is no explanation of how the author came to this conclusion.
5. Higher fees would actually deter a significant amount of people from visiting the lakes.
   Correct.
   Option E illustrates the reason for Casa charging an extra fee to protect the lakes. If the previous option had worked then the changing extra fee would have been avoided. But the argument clearly states about the deterioration of the lake has been constant. Hence option E is the correct answer.

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